The Castlegar man who was charged with two counts of break and enter following an investigation into a Genelle arson fire changed his plea to guilty two days before his trial was set to start.
On Nov. 30, 2023, at 3 a.m., first responders were called to a suspicious house fire in the 500 block of 16th Avenue in Genelle.
The home’s occupants were inside sleeping when the fire began, but they managed to escape without physical injury.
Officers investigated the cause of the fire and suspected it was intentionally set. No charges have been laid for the arson.
During the course of the investigation, police reportedly discovered that Riley Jackson, 29, had allegedly broken into the residence on two previous occasions and attempted to steal items.
Jackson was charged in December and entered a not guilty plea.
On April 10, at the provincial court in Rossland, Jackson entered a guilty plea to one of the counts of break and enter.
He was sentenced to time served — 60 days credited as 90 days due to the rule that time spent in custody prior to trial is credited at a ratio of 1.5 days per day. He was also given a 12-month probation order.
The Crown entered a stay of proceedings for the other break and enter count which was alleged to have happened at the same residence at a different time.
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